41 What is the Carbohydrates Addict's diet?
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This article is from the Diet FAQ, by Claudia McCreary cookignnewsletter@chef.net with numerous contributions by others.
41 What is the Carbohydrates Addict's diet?
The premise of this diet is that there are people who, for biological
reasons, develop unmanageable cravings for carbohydrates which can lead to
weight gain. The authors believe that this results from an overproduction of
insulin, impairing glucose metabolism, and an insufficient rise of brain
serotonin, responsible for the feeling of satiety. The objective of the diet
is to control insulin release by minimizing the carbohydrate consumption
which triggers it.
The basic daily diet consists of two carbohydrate-restricted meals, and one
"reward" meal which must be consumed within 60 minutes, but at which you may
eat absolutely anything. At the restricted meals, you eat standard portions
of such foods as eggs, fish, meat, cheese, salads and most non-starchy
vegetables. The general rule of thumb for restricted meals is that an
allowable food contains no more than 4 grams of carbohydrate per standard
serving. Some surprises among the foods not allowed at these meals include
fruits, broccoli, milk and yogurt. No snacks are permitted.
Depending on the foods you select, the diet can be compatible with the
standard recommendations for healthy eating (low-fat, high-fiber, etc.). The
authors recommend a weight loss of no more than two pounds per week.
Guidelines suggest variants on the diet based on how much weight you have
lost in the past week, and what your goals are for the following week. A
short paper and pencil test helps you determine if you are a carbohydrate
addict. There are currently three books in the Carbohydrate Addict series,
all by Rachael and Richard Heller: The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet, The
Carbohydrate Addict's Gram Counter, and The Carbohydrate Addict's Program
for Success. The first (and most useful) contains the theory, the diet,
lists of foods permitted and not permitted for the restricted meals,
recipes, and a host of success stories. The second is a small handbook with
an itemized list of foods, identifying those believed to trigger addictive
behaviors in carbohydrate addicts, which expands somewhat on the original
material. The third book is a workbook with more success stories and general
dieting tips, but no obvious new news.
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